Non-Male Factor Only-ICSI Can Overcome Oocyte Factor in PCOS Patients.

In this research, we retrospectively studied the influence of the IVF vs. the ICSI technique on embryo morphokinetics by means of a time-lapse incubator in fresh cycles. A total of 2645 treatment cycles resulting in ovum pick-up of 11,471 fertilized oocytes were included in the research from 2018 to 2022.

Mid-infrared spectroscopy as a real-time diagnostic tool for chronic endometritis: A preliminary study.

Research Question: Can attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy combined with machine learning techniques be used to develop a real-time diagnostic modality for chronic endometritis by analysing endometrial biopsies obtained during hysteroscopy?

Design: Women undergoing hysteroscopy for infertility assessment were enrolled in this prospective study from January 2020 to March 2021. Endometrial biopsies were evaluated using a spectrophotometer, and subsequently via histopathology, including immunohistochemical staining for the multiple myeloma oncogene-1 (MUM-1). Spectroscopy analyses of the positive and the negative chronic endometritis groups were compared across various cut-offs of MUM-1 positive cells per 10 high-power fields (HPF).

Does Endometrial Thickness or Compaction Impact the Success of Frozen Embryo Transfer? A Cohort Study Analysis.

: In frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, optimal endometrial thickness on ovulation day is typically 7-8 mm before progesterone administration. Recent studies have highlighted the significant inverse correlation between ongoing pregnancy rates and changes in endometrial thickness during the secretory phase after progesterone exposure, particularly by the day of embryo transfer (ET). This study aims to investigate how changes in endometrial thickness from the end of the proliferative phase to ET impact FET outcomes.

Excess Weight Impairs Oocyte Quality, as Reflected by mtDNA and BMP-15.

This prospective, case-control study evaluated the impact of obesity on oocyte quality based on mtDNA expression in cumulus cells (CC), and on bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2) in follicular fluid (FF). It included women 18 to <40 years of age, divided according to BMI < 24.9 (Group 1, n = 28) and BMI > 25 (Group 2, n = 22).

Cleavage Patterns of 9600 Embryos: The Importance of Irregular Cleavage.

This prospective, observational study investigated the incidence of irregular cleavage (IRC) among human embryos and its influence on IVF treatment outcomes. It included 1001 women who underwent 1976 assisted reproduction treatments during 2016-2021 in a single IVF clinic. Embryo morphokinetics were analyzed and evaluated for the association between IRC and women's characteristics, treatment characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes.

High initial β-hCG predicts IVF outcomes accurately and precludes the need for repeated measurements.

This study evaluated β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) changes during the early period of pregnancy in an attempt to predict successful pregnancy outcomes in ART. It determined the median values of the β-hCG and the 2-day β-hCG increments of clinical vs biochemical pregnancies. The results of fresh day 3 embryo, frozen day 3 embryo, and frozen day 5 embryo transfers were evaluated.

Ovulatory-cycle frozen embryo transfer: spontaneous or triggered ovulation and the impact of LH elevation at hCG triggering.

The effect of the luteinizing hormone (LH) elevation before the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) trigger in ovulatory frozen-thawed embryo transfer (Ovu-FET) cycles has not been determined. We aimed to investigate whether triggering ovulation in Ovu-FET cycles affects the live birth rate (LBR), and the contribution of elevated LH at the time of hCG trigger. This retrospective study included Ovu-FET cycles performed in our center from August 2016 to April 2021.

Non-invasive evaluation of embryos using mid-infrared attenuated total reflection spectrometry of incubation medium: a preliminary study.

Research Question: Can mid-infrared attenuated total reflection (MIR ATR) spectroscopy combined with machine learning methods be used as an additional tool to predict embryo quality and IVF treatment outcomes?

Design: Spent culture media was collected and analysed. MIR ATR absorbance spectra were measured using an ALPHA II spectrometer equipped with an attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrometry accessory. Patient and treatment data and results were collected and analysed in combination with machine learning techniques to identify possible correlations.

Embryonic Development in Relation to Maternal Obesity Does Not Affect Pregnancy Outcomes in FET Cycles.

This retrospective cohort study examined the effect of maternal BMI on embryo morphokinetics using a time-lapse incubator (TLI) and evaluated the effect on outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. The study included 641 women who underwent FET of a total of 2553 embryos from January 2017 to August 2019. The women were divided into four groups according to BMI: underweight (<18.

Does mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in the follicular fluid impact follicle and oocyte performance in IVF treatments?

Problem: The COVID-19 pandemic has many clinical manifestations. Rapid vaccine development raised concerns and speculations about future fertility outcomes and vaccine safety. We evaluated the effect of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on IVF treatment, oocyte and embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes.

Male genome influences embryonic development as early as pronuclear stage.

Background: Impaired paternal genome expression may cause poor embryonic development after in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Objective: To evaluate the expression of male infertility on embryo morphokinetics using a time-lapse incubator and its impact on IVF cycles.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study followed patients from January 2017 to August 2019.

Persevering in Fertility Treatments Despite Failures: Unrealistic Optimism and the Reality of a Pronatalist Culture.

Background: Fertility treatment discontinuation is difficult as it entails accepting childlessness. In most countries, financial limitations provide sufficient justification to terminate treatment. In Israel, unlimited funding enables women to undergo multiple treatment cycles, even when the odds of success are poor, thus providing a context for studying the psychological mechanisms involved when financial constraints are set aside.

Diode Laser Hysteroscopic Metroplasty for Dysmorphic Uterus: a Pilot Study.

This paper aims to study the efficacy and safety of diode laser hysteroscopic metroplasty for dysmorphic uterus and the impact on reproductive outcomes. This is a retrospective, single-center pilot study with prospective follow-up. The study was performed at a university-affiliated, tertiary hospital.

Ovulatory-Based FET Cycles May Achieve Higher Pregnancy Rates in the General Population and among Anovulatory Women.

This study evaluated which endometrial preparation protocol in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles provides the best results for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients and the general population. This retrospective study of 634 FET cycles was conducted 2016-2018. Cycles were divided into Group A: Artificial endometrial preparations for FET (aFET; = 348), Group B: Ovulatory cycle ( = 286) to compare two methods of endometrial preparation for FET.

Embryonic Development in Relation to Maternal Age and Conception Probability.

Data regarding association between early embryo development and maternal age is limited and inconclusive. This study has two aims: to evaluate differences in the cleavage stage of embryos in young versus advanced maternal age (AMA) women. To compare the early embryonic development of embryos that result in pregnancy versus no pregnancy.

More is not always better-lower estradiol to mature oocyte ratio improved IVF outcomes.

Aim: To find a cut-off ratio of estradiol/metaphase II oocyte (E2/M2) ratio and to evaluate the correlation with patients' characteristics, embryo morphokinetics using EmbryoScope™ and IVF cycle outcomes.

Material And Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, records of all fresh cycles that were cultured and scored by EmbryoScope™ were evaluated. The peak E2/M2 ratio was calculated on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and correlated to embryo morphokinetic quality and cycle outcomes.

Degenerative Oocytes in the Aspirated Cohort Are Not Due to the Aspirating Needle: a Prospective Randomized Pilot Study with Sibling Oocytes.

The aim of this study is to compare two different needles (17G vs. 20-17G variable diameter) used for OPU and to assess whether the different stress forces along the needle affect the presence of degenerative oocytes, oocyte quality, and embryo morphokinetics. Prospective, randomized study enrolled women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from August 2016 through August 2018 in an IVF unit at a tertiary care medical center.

Comparable Outcomes Using Oral Dydrogesterone Vs. Micronized Vaginal Progesterone in Frozen Embryo Transfer: a Retrospective Cohort Study.

This retrospective study was conducted to determine whether using oral dydrogesterone (DYD) instead of micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles affects pregnancy outcomes. Women undergoing autologous FET in an academic fertility center were evaluated. Uses of 10 mg TID oral DYD or MVP for patients treated in FET cycles (artificial and ovulatory cycle, separately) were compared.

The effect of endometrial thickness and pattern on the success of frozen embryo transfer cycles and gestational age accuracy.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between endometrial thickness measured before embryo transfer, and pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of all consecutive FET cycles, from January 2012 to August 2018. Based on ROC analysis for endometrial thickness, we found 8 mm was a reliable cutoff point to predict pregnancy prior to embryo transfer.

Degenerated oocyte in the cohort adversely affects IVF outcome.

The presence of Degenerated Oocyte (DEG) was mostly described after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with fewer reports on DEG at the time of ovum pick-up (OPU). This study aims to assess morphokinetics of embryos cultured in a time-lapse incubator and compare cohorts with and without DEG at OPU. In a retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2016 until September 31, 2017 a total of 399 IVF/ICSI cycles and 2980 embryos were evaluated.

Lipid droplets in granulosa cells are correlated with reduced pregnancy rates.

Background: Lipids are an important source for energy production during oocyte maturation. The accumulation of intracellular lipids binds to proteins to form lipid droplets. This may lead to cellular lipotoxicity.

Cesarean scar pregnancy managed with local and systemic methotrexate: A single center case series.

Objective: To report the efficacy of combined systemic and local methotrexate treatment for cesarean scar pregnancy and review data from selected, similar case series.

Study Design: A retrospective case series of 12 patients with cesarean scar pregnancy treated in a university hospital between 2014 and 2018. The intervention was combined treatment of systemic and local methotrexate.

Fetal neuroprotective mechanism of maternal magnesium sulfate for late gestation inflammation: in a rodent model.

Maternal administration of magnesium sulfate (Mg) is used in humans to protect the fetal brain during preterm delivery. We sought to determine the neuroprotective mechanism of Mg in a rat model of late gestation maternal inflammation. Pregnant rats at 20 d of gestation (20 total, four groups,  = 5 in each group) received i.

The influence of obesity, smoking, and serum follicular stimulating hormone in azoospermic patients on testicular sperm extraction-intra cytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes: A retrospective cohort study.

To examine the effect of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (sFSH) level, body-mass index (BMI) and smoking on Testicular Sperm Extraction-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (TESE-ICSI), and pregnancy outcomes.In this retrospective study, data were extracted from files of 52 azoospermic men who underwent TESE and in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-ICSI in our IVF unit. Demographic information, treatment cycle follow-up and pregnancy outcomes were collected.